Rumor has it (Iraq)

[Wagner]

US troops will be mandated by the UN/Iraq out of Iraq by 2010, apparently it isn't really considered an occupation until after DEC 2008 . So that said, does the "Iraq" issue have any barring on the upcoming election?

[chonko]

It is an occupation and always will be.

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by chonko

It is an occupation and always will be.

short, and pointless

[chonko]

Originally Posted by Wagner

short, and pointless

It could be pointless, but the fact of the matter is- it is an occupation.

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by chonko

It could be pointless, but the fact of the matter is- it is an occupation.

what are you talking about?

[MrLabGuy]

Read the fine print.

The withdraw will include the clause (based on favorable conditions at the time) or something of that extent.

Meaning if the current trend continues the US has no issues with the withdraw and I expect that to happen anyway. If conditions change all bets are off.

There is a difficult balancing point between Iraqi sovereignty and we've spent the lives of countless (priceless) good Americans and a boatload of American Taxpayer money to place you in power.

Where do we balance our interest and the interests of the Iraqi people? Tough question with difficult answers.

[carlgo]

Originally Posted by Wagner

US troops will be mandated by the UN/Iraq out of Iraq by 2010, apparently it isn't really considered an occupation until after DEC 2008 . So that said, does the "Iraq" issue have any barring on the upcoming election?

It would seem that this is a huge opportunity for the Dems as it forces McCain to either "flip-flop" (oh, when will that stupid phrase go away) and agree to get out sooner than what he suggested, or to defend staying there against the wishes of Iraq. This would likely result in a return to unified hatred of our occupation and high casualties again.

I suspect Obama will exploit this later in the campaign when it all plays out. It makes good sense to drop the hammer near the end rather than give away your hand too early. Voters forget stuff.

Anything can happen as clearly the administration is stunned that Iraq would spell out a withdrawal date. It is going to cost us taxpayers a lot of money to keep bases there as the Iraqis will correctly assume the neo-conservatives really want big bases near Iran and will pay dearly for them if they have to.

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by carlgo

It would seem that this is a huge opportunity for the Dems as it forces McCain to either "flip-flop" (oh, when will that stupid phrase go away) and agree to get out sooner than what he suggested, or to defend staying there against the wishes of Iraq. This would likely result in a return to unified hatred of our occupation and high casualties again.

I suspect Obama will exploit this later in the campaign when it all plays out. It makes good sense to drop the hammer near the end rather than give away your hand too early. Voters forget stuff.

Anything can happen as clearly the administration is stunned that Iraq would spell out a withdrawal date. It is going to cost us taxpayers a lot of money to keep bases there as the Iraqis will correctly assume the neo-conservatives really want big bases near Iran and will pay dearly for them if they have to.

Newsflash...

We have bases all over the world and YES. It would be in the best interest of the US to have a base in Iraq next door to Iran. Keep in mind...The Iraqi government needs to talk tough to keep the masses happy and keep their position. Those same politicians know they need America's help to keep them in power.

Truth is this timeline is just political posturing. I suspect that you fell for it hook line and sinker as you have with the whole "Occupation" rhetoric.

[sbarsap]

Iraq needs to start spending their own cash from their recent surplus to pay for their own rebuilding. We have wasted enough of our own tax dollars.

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by sbarsap

Iraq needs to start spending their own cash from their recent surplus to pay for their own rebuilding. We have wasted enough of our own tax dollars.

...that, and that 3rdWorldSupperClub, aka the UN, could not
negotiate a musical chairs session or mandate free ice cream at lunch.